I am a firm believer that you should be entitled to the treatment that you want. You should also be given treatment options that are best suited for your injuries and not based on a doctors biases or archaic opinions when they don’t understand other providers treatment benefits. An example would be a medical doctor who only believes in prescribing pills or just a small amount of physical therapy leaving you to fend for yourself. Discuss options with your medical doctor or chiropractor or go to someone who doesn’t have such a big ego that they won’t refer you out to another provider to give you the help that you need. So what are some of your options from a conservative standpoint?Medication - This is obvious from a societal standpoint in that almost every M.D. will do this. If you are in severe and excruciating pain, this could be very appropriate for a short period of time. Taking it over a long period of time will only cover up the injury and cause improper healing not to mention side effects and addiction to pain killers. While I strongly believe and support the medical doctors I refer to for injuries I see in my practice, I also know what prolonged use of N.S.A.I.D.S. (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory’s) can do to the stomach and intestinal tract over time ( a separate discussion in and of itself) and what vicodin, norco and other opiates can do (addiction).

Injections - Cortisone injections for inflammation can be effective, but keep in mind that most good doctors will be conservative with this as it destroys and weakens surrounding tissues and can de-mineralize surrounding bone. If it helps then great, you just have to be conservative with them. Injections by pain management or orthopedic M.D.'s can be diagnostic and help source where pain might be coming from, but this would be for a more serious injury or for someone who has already undergone conservative hands on treatments that aren't working. Chiropractic -While this is second nature in cultures who come from other countries that treat their bodies more naturally, many have never tried chiropractic or think it’s something that its not. Chiropractic is safer then most types of medical care because it IS natural. Since the spine houses and protects the most vital and delicate system in the body (the spinal cord and nerve roots that keep us alive). It would be common sense to at least acknowledge the fact that if you’ve had an injury to the spine that causes subluxation (spinal misalignment and dysfunction) then maybe addressing this would be helpful if done prudently. There are so many new and exciting techniques that are very gentle and safe and do not require high force. National polls show that between 80-90% of the population is satisfied with the outcome of chiropractic. Physical Therapy - There are different types of physical therapy. Electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, diathermy, infra-red heat, heating pads, ice and paraffin baths are all geared toward acute or chronic inflammation and spasmodic type conditions.Then there is stretching, strengthening and core based physical rehabilitation that utilizes different types of exercises and equipment to do this. This would be more for the second phase of healing from your injury after you’ve gotten out of the acute phase and your body can handle it. I would not throw a highly acute patient into physical rehab too soon or before it’s time. I am a definite advocate of good physical therapy.

Pilates Based Physical Rehabilitation - This is the new wave of physical therapy that is gaining a great deal of popularity. Initially I knew very little about pilates. My wife Audrey danced for the Sacramento Ballet when she was young and had been using pilates for over 30 years. We decided to add this to my practice after she became certified in the Body Arts and Science International Method. Since it incorporated all of the principles of stretching, strengthening, increased flexibility while utilizing the core stabilizers during movement, it became evident we should let my injury patients try it. I was very impressed with the results and now refer 80% of my injury patients to the pilates department. Now our staff attends the annual ‘Pilates on Tour’ symposium that is strictly geared toward rehabilitating injury patients. And guess who attends? Half of the attendees are pilates instructors and half are physical therapists who are convinced that pilates is a great rehabilitation method. We now receive referrals from many of the local physicians. I finally started pilates myself which has not only helped my own back pain but has given me a greater appreciation for the levels of difficulty. Now my orthopedic surgeon friend is doing it after referring many of his patients to me. Another unique benefit of pilates is the attention to detailed movement with our one-on-one instruction that teaches individuals how to engage the appropriate muscles correctly and translate that into everyday activities. Massage Therapy - Muscle work is really essential if you want the best possible healing. Finding a skilled massage therapist also makes a huge difference. There are many techniques, but I find that the one’s geared toward myofascial release are best and very appropriate for these types of injuries.

Acupuncture - One thing I like about acupuncture is it is also safe and has gained a great deal of respect in the medical community. Many of my M.D. friends prescribe this to their patients so this could be a help for some as well.

Surgery - On occasion, surgery is needed particularly for disc and facet joint injuries. One advantage I have in my 25 years of practice and working with thousands of injury patients and many M.D.’s is knowing who the good surgeons are. It’s also very helpful to know who accepts liens because if you’ve been in an auto accident and you don’t have health insurance, then there are only a handful of M.D.’s who will perform surgery on a lien (this is where a doctor get’s paid through your attorney). Sometimes surgery is just the way to go but make sure you utilize conservative treatment options first.

I have learned a great deal in my 28 years of practice treating car accident injuries. Insurance companies are not going to make it easy for you to get compensation for your medical bills and your pain and suffering. That's just the way it is. So it is imperative that you find a doctor who specializes in the recovery of car accident injuries and understands what insurance companies want. Also, finding a pain treatment center with truly beneficial services designed for your recovery can also make a huge difference. Most doctors have good intentions but often lack management skills that can inhibit your recovery and hurt your case. Here are some of the things to look for in an accident injury doctor.

#1 An injury doctor that listens and takes good notes to document your complaints, flare-ups and daily disabilities. If this isn’t being done, then it doesn’t exist. Documenting an injury from a car accident is everything, and this is how an insurance company knows you are truly hurt. Make sure your doctor is listening to you.

#2 Find a doctor who is helpful to your physical needs. If you tell your doctor your tired of taking medication and want something different, then you should be given the option to receive other services like a chiropractic approach, myofascial massage, physical therapy or pilates rehabilitation. Also, the more services provided under one roof the better. If conservative treatments aren’t helping then a pain management M.D. may help as surgery should be your last option.

#3 The level of examination performed on you should be of the highest standard. The quality of examination varies between doctors. If your doctor doesn’t spend adequate time taking a good history and performing an excellent examination (ours takes over 1 hour) then that leads to an inaccurate diagnosis, missed injuries and possibly improper treatment. This is considered poor documentation to the insurance company and they may not fully understand or believe the extent of your injuries. One example is not doing an adequate orthopedic and neurological examination. The very basis of referring you out for diagnostic tests or to a specialist hinges on what the doctor finds during this part of the examination by determining the extent of your injuries.

#4 The doctor should refer you out for MRI or proper diagnostic testing

if warranted. I cannot tell you how important an MRI (Magnetic Resonance

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Imaging) is and how it allows a competent injury doctor or chiropractor to rule out disc, facet joint, congenital or acquired pathologies to help find the cause of one’s pain. You may have an injury that is more serious then you think and the only way you, your doctor and the insurance company are going to know about it is with the proper diagnostic tests.

#5 The doctor should refer you out to other specialists when needed. In most cases, one doctor alone will not be enough unless you have a more minor self limiting injury. Your car accident injury doctor and the accident recovery center you choose should have a strategic plan of pain treatment options to get you the best care you deserve.

Car Accident Injuries: Go to a doctor immediately

The first thing you need to know is don’t assume you haven’t been injured after a car accident even if you initially feel fine. Some people have delayed symptoms that surface days, weeks or months later. Maybe you have mild pain that you think will eventually go away, but it doesn’t. Over time, the pain either doesn't go away or slowly gets worse. If this occurs, there is no doubt you've suffered a higher degree of soft tissue damage then expected. Headaches, neck and back pain, numbness or radiating arm or leg pain are often common complaints you should never ignore. In the meantime, you have delayed going to the doctor and have no documentation that you’ve been injured.

This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. By not going to an injury doctor for your pain within the first week or so you are saying to the insurance company that you have not been injured. The longer you wait after that, you are literally asking for trouble. Going to the emergency room is fine, but you must do a follow up with preferably a car accident injury doctor. This is a doctor who has treated enough car accident injuries to understand insurance company standards. Going to your primary medical doctor is an excellent start for any needed medication and documentation. In the end, you need a doctor that specializes in injury rehabilitation and understands car accidents and the med-legal system. Chiropractic care and a chiropractic approach can often give you great benefits because hands on soft tissue healing is addressed. So getting to a doctor immediately and to an experienced accident injury doctor or specialist is imperative.

Several years ago I had a patient who waited 2 months before coming to see me after her auto accident. She was truly injured and had significant neck pain. I treated her for a couple of months and released her. Eventually I had to testify in court on her behalf because the insurance company was fighting her case. She lost her case in court because the jury couldn’t understand how she was injured if she waited two months. Do you blame them? So rule #1, go to the doctor and get examined immediately.Let a doctor who specializes in car accident injuries perform a thorough evaluation to determine if you’ve been injured, and don't assume you haven't been injured! Studies show that a disc injury can take up to 6 weeks to become fully symptomatic. A good starting point is your primary physician, but an experienced car accident injury chiropractor who specializes in the rehabilitation of injuries can play a vital role in the recovery of your injuries and pain.